Printing or lettering machine.



PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903.

H. ELMBLAD.

PRINTING 0R LETTERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14 1901.

N0 MODEL, 5 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Hal.

;No. 720,573. PATENTED FEB. 17,1903.

1 H. ELMBLAD. PRINTING OR LETTERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.1 4, 1901. N0 MODEL, 3 SHEETSSHBBT-2.

m: Momma ve sus 00, PNOTO-LIYHQ, WASHINGTON. n c.

No. 720,573. PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903.

H ELMBLAD.

PRINTING 0R LETTERING MAGHINEV APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 14, 1901.

NO MODEL.

Am w

lTED STATES ATE Fr es.

. P RINTING OR LETT ERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 720,573, dated February 17, 1903. Application filed November 14,1901. Serial in). 82,182. (Nomodel) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HJALMAR ELMBLAD, of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing or LetteringMachines, of which the following is a specification. V

The present invention relates to an appliance for printing show-cards, bulletins, signs, bills of fare, &c., on paper or any suitable material, the object being to provide a comparatively simple and quickly-operated machine. This .I accomplish by novel means, which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings and which will hereinafter be fully described.

Figure 1 is' afront elevation ofa machine embodying features of my invention with a part of the mechanism brokeu'away to more clearly show its construction. Fig. 2 is a plan of same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the machine, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail, enlarged, showing an end view of the shifting frame, withithe tynipan and a part of the type-wheel in section, one of the type being shown in the position ofmaking an impression. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail show ing the paper-carriage and its shifting frame in a position near the completion of an impression. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the paper-carriage. Fig. 7 is a section showing the ink device and the cam for shifting the type-bars viewed in the direction of the arrow 7, Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a section, enlarged, of the type-wheel rim and one of the type-bars. Fig. 9 is a plan of a type-bar. Fig. 10 is a cross-section of the type-bar, taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a section of same, taken on line 11 11; and Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a modified form of type-bar. I

In carrying out the present invention it is my purpose to provide a rotatable type-Wheel with movable keys or bars having type. These type are normally out of a position to print, but by strikinga type-bar it inovesoutwardly into a position for printing, A distinctive feature of the invention Will be found inthe means employed for placing the typebar in an outward position. After an impression is performed the bar is automatically moved into its normal position. In operating the machine it is simply necessary for the operator to press or strike in successive order the keys or ends of the bars having such letters as he desires, and the movement of the type-wheel will carry them around to a central point and will make an impression of each letter and afterward place it out of commission .until struck again.

During the operation of printing a letter the paper-carriage is moved forward by the type-wheel and rotary platen,' a nd I have embodied in the machine some novel means for variably spacing the printing; Briefiy'mentioned, a part of each type-bar engages the paper-carriage when an impression is to be made and moves the carriage forward while same is being performed, and a shifting frame is employed to move the carriage back, so as to correct the excess movement of the carriage and place it in position forthenextimpression. An explanation of this double movement of the paper-carriage with each type impression, and the advantages to be derived therefrom will hereinafter be described.

mounted the general framework of the machine, which is of metal, and B is a pedestal having a box-like part b, partially inclosing the cylindrical platen C, and a housing I), which surrounds the shaft 0 of the platen. At rear of thepart B is a column 13, having a horizontal arm B projecting toward the front of the machine and providedwith a bore 19 in which is mounted the shaft d of thetypewheel D." At one side of theajrm B is a'horizontal plate or bracket 19 for supporting the 'inking device and a cam J for shifting the type-bars.

O is a cylindrical platen or roller placed centrally beneath the type-wheel and having a horizontal shaft 0 axially parallel with the axis of the type-wheel. "The shaft ois mounted in journal-boxes 0 0 the said boxes being provided w'ithsprihg-supports c and adjusting-bolts or screws 0, which limit the upward movement of" the platen O. Nearthe rear end of the shaft 0 is attached asmall sprocket or drive wheel 0 and at the end of the shaft is a pulley or fly-wheel C The" platenengages the under side of the tympan M when the type-wheel presses on same, the wheel and platen moving the paper-carriage.

D refers as a whole to the type wheel.

.75 A refers to a bed or base, upon which is This wheel has a hub d rigidly secured to the shaft d, the said shaft having bearings in the arm B of frame. This shaft has a sprocketwheel d Projecting from the hub (Z are spokes d supporting a rim 61 The rim (Z has a broad face (1 provided with circumferential grooves d ,with beveled or sloping parts (1, a similar beveled part 61 being on one of the edges of the rim, as shown in Fig. 8.

E E are keys or bars provided with typefaces and arranged transversely on the face of the rim (Z Each type-bar consists of a body or plate 6, having transverse tongues c, provided with horizontal bearing-surfaces c and sloping or beveled parts 6 each of said tongues being in reality a wedge with a horizontalunderbearing-surface. Eachtypebar is preferably made with sloping or beveled sides e as shown in Fig. 10. The object of making the type-bars with sloping sides is that each bar becomes a wedge-1i ke part, thus allowing the bars to be fitted closer together and be better seated than if a bar had its sides parallel. At the ends of a typebar are flanges or depending fingers e 6 projecting inwardly over the rim 61 To these flanges springs c are connected to rings (1 for keeping the type-bars in any set position in which they may be placed.

In the general application of this invention it is deemed preferable to use type-bars carrying two series of letters or characters-as, for instance, capitals and lower-case letters. By doing so about forty type-bars, for instance, may be employed, thus embodying eighty letters and characters on the typewheel, and as the machine is intended principally for printing large letters, say, at least one inch in height, this arrangement of a double series of type permits a wheel of about fifteen inches in diameter to be employed for printing such size of letters; but I do not desire to limit my invention to the number of type carried by a type-bar, as it is readily perceived that bars having single type may be used. In Fig. 12 a modification is shown of the bar, a single type being shown.

6 is a fiat spring which presses against a part of the wheel and keeps the bar in any set position.

F refers to a type on the face of one of the bars E and is intended to designate thelarger series of type or capitals, and frefers to a lower-case or smaller size of type. The type are preferably curved transversely in form on their faces, as shown atf, Fig. 10, and G g are segmental cam-like faces forming friction contact parts on the bars E for engagingand moving the paper-carriage. The segment Gis centrallylocated on the type-bar, and the part 9 is at the end of the bar. The parts G and g are of a width exceeding those of the faces of the types F f, respectively, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, where a; represents the width of a type-face and y the width of a segment. The object of making the segments wider than the type-faces is so that a segment will engage the paper-carriage before the type strikes the paper and move said carriage before, during, and after the impression. The paper thus moves in the same direction and with the same speed as that of the type, preventing the type from cutting into same, also saving wear of type and giving a neat and uniform impression. This excess movement of the paper-carriage would be likely to leave too large a space between each impression; but I provide a shifting frame which gives an alternate movement to the paper-carriage between each impression and which corrects the excess forward movement of the carriage. The width of each segmental face is made variable, according to the width of a typeface.

The front end e of each type-bar is provided with one or more designations or characters, as shown at F, to indicate the letter or character on the bar. The bars thus serve as keys and the whole wheel a rotary keyboard, which is operated on by simply striking the ends of the bars while the wheel is revolving.

H H are inking-rollers in contact with the type of printing-wheel. These rollers are mounted on an adjustable bracket h, which also carries an ink-roller H The bracket h has a set-screw 71. passing through a slot it into the part b of frame for clamping the bracket in any desired position. The roller H has a shaft 7L3, )rovided with a grooved collar 704, which is engaged by a yoke 71/5, attached to a sliding bar h.

I is a bell-crank pivoted at i and engaging a slot 7b7 in the bar 7i. Connected to the other arm of the bell-crank is a rod I, having a ring 2' in operative connection with an eccentric I on the shaft d of the printingwheel. This eccentric actuates the rod 1' and the bell-crank and causes the roll 11 to have a reciprocating or vibrating motion. The roller H is made in two sections 72, and h for carrying two colors of ink when desired. Depending from the bracket h is a cam-lke part, finger, or sloping projection J. Each type-bar after an impression is made strikes this finger or cam while the wheel is revolving and is shoved back into its normal or nonprinting position. J is a similar cam or finger above the part J, so as to shove in a typebar should the wheel be turned backward. The rear end of the shaft 71." has a small sprocket-wheel h K is a chain or belt engaging the wheels 7L8 (Z G and an idler 0 so as to operate the respective shafts of said wheels by power from the shaft 0 L is a small hand-wheel mounted on the shaft h" and having a belt Z connected to a pulley h on the shaft 7L3. This is for operating the machine by hand or at a slow speed when desired, the wheel L driving the inking device and the sprocket-wheel it moving the chain connected to wheel (Z on shaft of type-wheel.

M refers as a whole to the paper-carriage, which consists of a sliding frame M, having side bars m, provided with tongues m, which engage grooves at in side rails n.

M is the tympan connected to the side bars m and is preferably of a flexible material, such as thin metal or cardboard. Connecting the bars m at their ends are metal crosspieces m A longitudinalmat m of rubber or other material, is attached centrally to the a strip is preferably provided with a cloth, tape,

or other'friction surface, as shown at1o The strip 19 is engaged by a segmental face G or g on type-wheel during the operation of making an impression, and thus moves the papercarriage forward, and the strips 19 prevent the paper from being soiled by the type that are not printing.

Nis a shifting frame. This consists of the rails n and two end or H-shape movable parts 72 pivoted at n to rods 1%, attached to brackets a The parts n are connected at their upper ends to cross-rods n and n attached to the side rails n. N is a spring for pulling the frame into a backward position.

Q is a friction-spring attached by screws q or other means to one of the rails n and engaging one of bars m, supporting the tympan.

R is a bracket provided with a buffer R, which consists of a small cylinder 9". Entering this is a piston 1', having a rod 1' passing through a bearing r in a post T The piston-rod T has fingers or flanges r which engage the cross-rod n of the shifting frame N.

R is a set-screw for adjusting the movement of the piston r and the cross-rod n of the frame N.

S is a lever pivoted to a brackets, attached to main frame. From the leverS is a belt or chain .9, passing around and operating a small pulley S on a rock-shaft T, mounted on bed of machine. This shaft has crank ends 75 t, provided with connecting-rods t 75, attached to the ends n of shifting frame.

T is a plate having stops t for limiting the transverse movement of the shifting frame.

T is a Weighted arm projecting from a fixed collar 25 on the shaft T for retaining the said shaft in a set position. By operating the lever S the shifting frame may be moved transversely under the type-wheel, so that either the large series of type F or smaller seriesf will be centrally in a proper position above the mat of tympan.

E is a bar left blank or without type-faces,

this for providinga space or blank between each word.

The operation of machine. is as follows: The sliding frame M is moved into an outward positiomand a sheet of paper Z is placed beneath the frisket P. The frame is then shoved into a position beneath type-wheel suitable to begin printing. Poweris applied to operate the type-wheel, and a key or end of each type-bar, with letters desired, is struck while the wheel is revolving. struck moves laterally and outwardly on the rim of the type-wheel, and when the bar reaches the paper-carriage the segmental face on same engages the strip 19 of the frisket. This moves the carriage forward slightly in advance of the type, which makes an impression while the carriage and paper are moving and also leaves the paper while same is in motion. When the segmental face first engaged the strip 10, the sliding frame M and tilting frame Nmove together, being.

kept so by the spring Q. (Frames made with tight-fitting side rails or bars would have the same effect.) As the frame N moves forward the end rod h moves, with its buffer, until the set-screw It stops same. This stops the shifting frame; but the carriage still continues to slide in the side bars until the segmental face leaves the part'p On this happening the spring N pulls both frame and carriage back into a position suitable for the next impression. On reaching the cam or finger J each bar is shoved back to its normal position. When the end of a line is reached,the paper maybe moved transversely into a position for another line by turningthe rod 0. By moving the lever S the papercarriage may be moved into a position for printing either series B or fof the type. It

will be noticed that a distinctive feature of the invention is the employment of the. longitudinal shifting carriage, which carries the paper-carriage back after eachimpression, so as to dispose of the excess forward movement of the carriage. By making this movement adjustable, as already mentioned, very neat spacing of the letters may be effected. This, in connection with the other features mentioned, provides a very efficient, quick, and easily-operated machine for the printing purposes to which it is adapted.

What I claim is- 1. A printing-machine, havinga wheel provided with outwardly-movable type-bars in combination with a paper-carriage havingza tympan provided with a longitudinal mat and a frisket which is engaged by a type-bar during an impression so as to move said carriage, as set forth.

2. In combination, aprinting-wheel having segmental parts, a paper-carriage having a tym pan provided with alongitudin al matand a strip, which is engaged by one of the segmental partsduring the operation of-printing so as to move the carriage forward, as set forth.

3. In a printing-machine, a wheel having outwardly-movable type-bars, a paper-carriage having a flexible tympan, a frisket, a cylindrical platen beneath the tym pan means for moving the carriage forward and means for shifting the carriage laterally,as set forth.

4. The combination in a printing-machine of a printing-wheel provided circumferentially with cam-like movable segmental parts and a paper-holding carriage, the said segmental parts engaging and moving said carriage during the operation of printing, as set forth.

5. Aprinting-machine,havingatype-wheel provided with outwardly-movable segmental parts, means for retaining said segmental parts in an outward position and means for releasing same, in combination with a paperholding carriage, the said segmental parts being adapted to engage said carriage and move same forward during operation of printing, a cylindrical platen and means for moving the carriage into a position for the next impression, as set forth.

6. A printing-machine, having a printingwheel with outwardly movable segmental parts, the said parts having variable faces, in combination with a paper-holding carriage, which is engaged and moved forward variably with different widths of type, and a cylindrical platen, as set forth.

7. In a printing-machine, a wheel provided with bars having type, each of said bars having beveled sides 6 and a transverse curved segmental part G, as set forth.

8. The combination in a printing-machine of a paper-holding carriage and a wheel having movable type-bars, each of said bars be ing provided with means for engaging said paperholding carriage and moving same a distance slightly in excess of the width of a type-face during the operation of printing, as set forth.

9. In a printing-machine, a wheel having transversely and outwardly movable type and a longitudinally-movable papencarriage, the said carriage being provided with means for moving it laterally, as set forth.

10. In a printing-machine, a paper-holding carriage, a type-wheel, means for engaging said carriage and moving same forward a distance in excess of the width of a type-face or impression, and means for moving said carriage into a position for a successive impression, as set forth.

11. A printing-machine, having a movable paper-carriage, provided with a tympan, a rotary platen beneath same, and a type-wheel having outwardly-movable type, means for placing same in said position and means for moving said type back to'an inward position after each impression has been made, as set forth.

12. A printing-machine, having a movable paper-carriage provided with a tympan, a rotary platen beneath same, and a printingwheel provided with outwardly-movable typebars in combination with a cam which engages a type-bar after an impression has been made and moves said bar into an inward position, as set forth.

13. In combination, a paper-holding carriage and a printing-wheel having outwardlymovable type-bars, each of said bars being provided with means for engaging and moving said paper-carriage during the operation of making an impression, as set forth.

14. In combination, a wheel having outwardly-movable type, a paper-carriage and a cylindrical plat-en, the said platen having spring-supports and means for adjusting its position, as set forth.

15. In a printing-machine, a wheel having type-bars, each bar being provided with a cam-like under face, the said wheel having a cam-like rim which is engaged byeach typebar and which gives the type-bar an outward movement when it is moved across said rim. 1

16. A type-wheel provided with movable type-bars having cam-like under faces, the rim of said wheel being provided with means for engaging said faces so as to move each bar outwardly when one of said bars is moved across the rim.

17. A printing machine, having a typewheel, in combination with a movable paperholding carriage, the said carriage having a central flexible mat and a tilting frisket provided with longitudinal strips for protecting and holding the paper, as set forth.

18. In a printing-machine, a paper-holding carriage having a tympan M a mat m, and a frisket provided with longitudinal strips 1) and a longitudinal strip 19 as set forth.

19. A printing machine, having a typewheel and a movable paper-carriage, the said carriage being mounted on a tilting frame, in combination with means for moving the carriage forward a distance in excess of a type impression, and means for moving the carriage backward into a position suitable fora successive impression, as set forth.

20. A printing-machine, having a printingwheel, a cylindrical platen and a paper-carriage, the said carriage being provided with means for movingit forward during each type impression in combination with a pneumatic buffer which engages the carriage at the end of each forward movement, as set forth.

21. Aprinting-machine, having a movable paper-carriage provided with a tym pan, a 1011- gitudinal resilient mat on same, a frisket, a rotary platen and a printing-wheel having movable type, as set forth.

22. In aprinting-machine, a paper-carriage provided with a tym pan and a longitudinal resilient mat on same, a frisket, a rotary platen, and aprinting-wheel provided with means for moving the carriage during the operation of printing, as set forth.

23. A printing-machine, having a movable paper-carriage provided with a tympan, a rotary platen beneath same and a printingwheel having movable type and means for gitudinal mat on same, a frisket, a platen beneath the carriage, a printing-Wheel having series of type, means for moving the carriage longitudinally and means for shifting the carriage from one series of type to another.

26. A printing-machine, having a movable paper-carriage provided with a tym pan,a frisket, a platen beneath the carriage, a printing- Wheel having outwardly-movable type-bars provided with series of type, means for moving the carriage longitudinally and means for shifting the carriage laterally from one series of type to another, as set forth.

27. A printing-machine, havinga movable paper-carriage, a tympan, a resilient mat on same, a frisket, a platen, a printing-wheel having movable type and means for engaging the paper-carriage and moving same forward during the operation of printing, as set forth. In testimony whereof I have affi'xed my signature this llth day of'November, 1901.

HJALMAR ELMBLAD. In presence of- J. B. HALPENNY, JOHN NEUHAUS. 

